Dual mode user interface system and method for 3D video

Abstract

A system is provided for use with a video input signal and a video unit. The video input signal can be one of a two dimensional video signal and a three dimensional video signal. The video unit can display a three dimensional video and a two dimensional video. The system includes a receiver portion, a processing portion, a switching portion and an output portion. The receiver portion can receive the video input signal. The processing portion can output a first signal in a first mode of operation and can output a second signal in a second mode of operation, wherein the first signal is based on the video input signal and the second signal is based on the video input signal. The switching portion can switch the processing portion from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation. The output portion can provide an output signal to the video unit, wherein the output signal is based on the first signal when the processing portion operates in the first mode of operation and wherein the output signal is based on the second signal when the processing portion operates in the second mode of operation. The first signal includes a two dimensional video signal, whereas the second signal includes a three dimensional video signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for controlling a presentation of content, the system comprising:
 a computer configured to:
 cause a display to display a first piece of content in a first format; 
 determine that a user is switching between presentations of different pieces of content; 
 while it is determined that the user is switching between presentations of different pieces of content:
 determine that a second piece of content is in a second format that is different from the first format; 
 cause the display to display the second piece of content in the first format; 
 
 after causing the display to display the second piece of content in the first format, determine that the user has stopped switching between presentations of different pieces of content; and 
 in response to determining that the user has stopped switching between presentations of different pieces of content, cause the display to display the second piece of content in the second format. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first format is 3D side-by-side full resolution and the second format is 3D side-by-side half resolution. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first format is 3D side-by-side full resolution and the second format is 3D top-bottom. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to convert first video data corresponding to the second piece of content in the first format to second video data corresponding to the second piece of content in the second format based at least on a first resolution associated with the first format and a second resolution associated with the second format. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the user has stopped switching between presentations of different pieces of content is based on a determination that a predetermined duration of time has elapsed. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to:
 determine that a third format is not supported by the display; and 
 in response to determining that the third format is not supported by the display, select the second format that is supported by the display. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to:
 identify one or more graphics to be presented in connection with the second piece of content; 
 combine the one or more graphics with first video data corresponding to the second piece of content in the second format to create second video data; and 
 
       when causing the display to display the second piece of content in the second format, cause the display to display the second video data such that the one or more graphics are overlaid on the second piece of content. 
     
     
       8. A method for controlling a presentation of content, comprising:
 causing a display to display a first piece of content in a first format; 
 determining that a user is switching between presentations of different pieces of content; 
 while it is determined that the user is switching between presentations of different pieces of content:
 determining that a second piece of content is in a second format that is different from the first format; 
 causing the display to display the second piece of content in the first format; 
 
 after causing the display to display the second piece of content in the first format, determining that the user has stopped switching between presentations of different pieces of content; and 
 in response to determining that the user has stopped switching between presentations of different pieces of content, causing the display to display the second piece of content in the second format. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first format is 3D side-by-side full resolution and the second format is 3D side-by-side half resolution. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first format is 3D side-by-side full resolution and the second format is 3D top-bottom. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises converting first video data corresponding to the second piece of content in the first format to second video data corresponding to the second piece of content in the second format based at least on a first resolution associated with the first format and a second resolution associated with the second format. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining that the user has stopped switching between presentations of different pieces of content is based on a determination that a predetermined duration of time has elapsed. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining that a third format is not supported by the display; and 
 in response to determining that the third format is not supported by the display, selecting the second format that is supported by the display. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying one or more graphics to be presented in connection with the second piece of content; 
 combining the one or more graphics with first video data corresponding to the second piece of content in the second format to create second video data; and 
 
       when causing the display to display the second piece of content in the second format, causing the display to display the second video data such that the one or more graphics are overlaid on the second piece of content. 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for controlling a presentation of content, the method comprising:
 causing a display to display a first piece of content in a first format; 
 determining that a user is switching between presentations of different pieces of content; 
 while it is determined that the user is switching between presentations of different pieces of content:
 determining that a second piece of content is in a second format that is different from the first format; 
 causing the display to display the second piece of content in the first format; 
 
 after causing the display to display the second piece of content in the first format, determining that the user has stopped switching between presentations of different pieces of content; and 
 in response to determining that the user has stopped switching between presentations of different pieces of content, causing the display to display the second piece of content in the second format. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first format is 3D side-by-side full resolution and the second format is 3D side-by-side half resolution. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first format is 3D side-by-side full resolution and the second format is 3D top-bottom. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises converting first video data corresponding to the second piece of content in the first format to second video data corresponding to the second piece of content in the second format based at least on a first resolution associated with the first format and a second resolution associated with the second format. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein determining that the user has stopped switching between presentations of different pieces of content is based on a determination that a predetermined duration of time has elapsed. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining that a third format is not supported by the display; and 
 in response to determining that the third format is not supported by the display, selecting the second format that is supported by the display. 
 
     
     
       21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying one or more graphics to be presented in connection with the second piece of content; 
 combining the one or more graphics with first video data corresponding to the second piece of content in the second format to create second video data; and 
 
       when causing the display to display the second piece of content in the second format, causing the display to display the second video data such that the one or more graphics are overlaid on the second piece of content.